HPMRS RAILDATE 12 Sep 08

News

RAILDATE: the weekly newsletter of the Hursley Park Model Railway Society: http://www.ibmhursleyclub.org.uk/ss/hpmrs/

NETWATCH

The Weardale and Dartmoor railways have been acquired from Ealing Community Transport by British American Railway Services Limited, a subsidiary of Iowa Pacific Holdings, a Chicago-based company that owns a number of short lines in the southern United States with over 700 miles of track, 180 employees, and a current annual turnover rate in excess of $40 million (US). Iowa Pacific handles over 35,000 annual freight carloads and over 75,000 annual passenger trips in six states, with additional subsidiaries that repair freight and passenger cars, and operate first-class mainline passenger tours.

Dartmoor Railway operates a 17-mile freight and passenger line in the South-West of England, serving Okehampton and Meldon Quarry. Weardale Railway owns an 18-mile line in County Durham between Bishop Auckland and Eastgate, with heritage passenger services presently operating between Wolsingham and Stanhope.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/7600061.stm http://www.iowapacific.net/

(Spotters: various)

Sittingbourne & Kemsley Light Railway SOS Appeal Update 1

This week has seen further press coverage of the threats to the SKLR. Articles have appeared in Heritage Railway, Railway Magazine and Steam Railway. Locally, further articles have appeared in the East Kent Gazette and Kent Messenger Newspapers. Meridian TV has reshown its report on its evening news, and also during GM TV.

A fighting fund has been launched to pay for the campaign and, hopefully, the purchase of the land, and an account has been set up at: http://www.justgiving.com/sklr

If you would like to discuss your donation please email info@sklr.net and they will get back to you. (Any surplus funds will be used for the benefit and improvement of the SKLR.) Campaign T-shirts are now available from the railway at £7.00 (£6.00 to members) and can be obtained from the shop at Kemsley or by post (cost of postage and packing is £1.50 + 50p for each additional T-shirt) by phoning 0871 222 1569 (have your credit card details ready).

The society is planning a display in a closed shop in Sittingbourne High Street and also a public petition - further details as they become available. Several people have asked who else they can write to, so these addresses might be useful:

Swale Borough Council, Swale House, East Street, Sittingbourne, Kent, ME10 3HT. Leader Andrew Bowles (leader@swale.gov.uk)

Sittingbourne & Sheppey MP, Derek Wyatt, 5 London Road, Sittingbourne, Kent, ME10 1NQ (wyattd@parliament.uk)

M-real UK Services Limited, Unit A Compass North, Pembroke Road, Chatham Maritime, Kent, ME4 4YG

If you live in Swale you can contact: - your local Swale Borough Councillor - for contact details go to: http://www.swale.gov.uk/dso/CouncillorsBy.asp?SortOrder=Ward - your Kent County Councillor - for contact details go to: http://www.swale.gov.uk/dso/County_councillors.asp

What else could possibly be as good as a Hastings DEMU... ? BEER, that's what. So says Darren Cafferty, who has just taken over a group which he is relaunching as a Beer & Train lovers group. The focus will primarily be on real ale, cloudy old gut-rot cider, and what was the old BR(S) region. If you're interested then look up and subscribe to it: http://uk.groups.yahoo.com/group/thumpersandbeer/ (Spotter: Nick Wheat)

Due to redevelopment, the Pullman sheds at Brighton have had to be cleared of several items of rolling stock awaiting restoration. Unfortunately, some might go for scrap, but a fascinating set of pictures of the "Brighton exodus" has been posted on the net (I'm amazed at how they got the Weltrol out...!) http://bens-railway.fotopic.net/c1577125.html

The Crystal Palace High Level branch is being incorporated into London's long distance footpath network. The inaugural, fully-guided, walk of 5.8 miles will take place on Tuesday 16th. Various local dignitaries and the press will be at the ribbon cutting ceremony. Meet at Nunhead Station at 2.00pm. If anyone would like to come along, just turn up.

There have been several recent updates to the DJ Norton website of steam-age pictures around the Birmingham area: http://www.photobydjnorton.com/

Everything on Rails: http://johnlawontherails.fotopic.net/

Steam - BR and Beyond: http://www.hurstmereclose.freeserve.co.uk/html/steam_-_br_and_beyond-.html

Where the editor spent part of his holiday: http://www.alderneyrailway.com/

Italian steam, including Crosti-boilered locos in action: http://picasaweb.google.com/valeriogabbani/LocomotiveAVapore?feat=featured#

(Spotter: Richard Walker)

The Lincoln and District Engineering Society 75th Anniversary open weekend is on Sat/Sun 20th/21st September 2008. Gates open at 10.00am at North Scarle Playing Fields, LN6 9ER (shown on the Ordnance Survey map). The society has a ground level track, approx 2000 feet long, with 7.25- and 5-inch gauges. Atractions include craft stalls, live steam and diesel locomotives, full size and miniature traction engines, model displays and engineering supplies, classic & vintage cars and motorcycles, refreshments and Bar. Admission charges and train fares apply.

Ralph Rawlinson's Railway Round-up...

West Coast Main Line: Despite the progress made with possessions so far this year the new timetable commencing on 14th December might have to be phased in. A few trains may not be introduced until January to lessen the impact on services.

Rugby: Network Rail's contractors took a major three-day possession over the August Bank Holiday, allowing Rugby's all new up island platforms 5 and 6 to come into use on August 27. Platform 5 can accommodate 11 coaches and is used by Virgin Pendolinos, whilst platform 6 can accommodate only 8 and is used by LM Desiros. All down trains continue to use platform 1 if stopping and the down fast if not. Until last year the station possessed only two through platforms and when the refurbishment of these (now 2 and 4) is complete it will have five through platforms and a south facing bay (No 3).

Milton Keynes: New platform construction has also been taking place during August at Milton Keynes. Part of the up platform has been removed in preparation for a new south bay to serve Bedford trains extended from Bletchley.

Liverpool - Glasgow: It is quite a few years since there was a regular service of through trains between Liverpool and Glasgow or indeed anywhere (other than Barrow) north of Lancaster. In March this year Renaissance Trains (RT) submitted plans for three Liverpool-Glasgow trains seven days a week but Network Rail claims that the paths conflict with re-timed services. RT, which is currently negotiating the necessary funding for start-up costs, hopes to identify new timings that are acceptable. http://www.renaissancetrains.com/

Gretna Jn - Annan: Redoubling of the 8-mile section of the G&SW between Gretna Junction and Annan was completed in early August. This route is heavily use by coal trains and completion of the £35m scheme will give more flexibility. Included in the scheme was the provision of a second platform and a footbridge at Gretna Green station.

Dublin - Luas: The previous report on the Red Line (west - east) should have mentioned that it is closed at present between Abbey Street and Connolly station for the extension to the Docklands to be built. That was significance of the accompanying video.

Denmark - Germany: The new ICE-TD (diesel intercity express) services between Denmark and Germany are reported to be a success. There has been a big increase in loadings on the on the international routes on which they are used.

Switzerland: The 38 mile Bernina line operated by the Rhätische Bahn (RhB), which runs from St Moritz to Torino and features many viaducts and tunnels, has been designated a World Heritage Site. It is the second RhB route to gain such status following listing of the Albula line earlier this year.

Russia: The long awaited heavy-rail link between Moscow and its Sheremetjevo International airport was inaugurated on June 10.

China: This month China is launching a new luxury service on the 2,834-mile Qinghai-Tibet railway (opened July 2006). Each 12-coach train will include two dining cars, an observation coach and private suites with bathrooms for just 96 passengers paying 20 times the normal fare!

A test train on the new Beijing-Tianjin High Speed Line (see Raildate 8th August) has set a new speed record for Chinese conventional trains. On June 24 a Siemens designed 'Velaro' CHR3 high speed train reached 245mph (394.3kph).

IN THE NEWS

Lorry fire in Channel Tunnel: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/7611622.stm http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/7610919.stm

Photo exhibition at St Pancras: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/london/7603508.stm

Unofficial cooking on train at Preston: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/lancashire/7604280.stm

Mobile phones on the Glasgow Subway: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/glasgow_and_west/7606973.stm

Fatal accident in Croydon involving bus and tram: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/london/7602748.stm http://tinyurl.com/4efdxj

Delays in North East due to Bradway Tunnel engineering works: http://tinyurl.com/46tzbt

Scrapyard fire at Trowbridge closed railway line: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/wiltshire/7609188.stm

Increased traffic on the Barnstaple line: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/7598447.stm

Angry Argentine commuters torch train in rush hour: http://tinyurl.com/5fv563

First Group bus fleetlist for sale: http://www.firstgroup.com/ukbus/southwest/hampshire/fleetlist/index.php

Bus accident in Lancaster: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/lancashire/7610326.stm

Portrush airshow: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/in_pictures/7602778.stm

XL in administration: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/7611639.stm

And Futura: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/humber/7610252.stm

And nearly Alitalia: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/7610482.stm

And nearly Zoom: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/7604866.stm

The Box - BBC tracking a 40ft container for a year: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/7600180.stm#pics

Spotters: Neil Kearns, Reg Nerps, Nick Wheat

TV and Radio

Events

See Mainline Steam Tours page for up-to-date info on many of these tours, and others, often with timings.